Bananas Are Not Just Popular in The South

You don't have to be from the great American south to use bananas for a dessert. Northern & southern Italians love fried bananas too. We loved when my grandmother made this dessert. I couldn't wait to grow up to make it for my family too.

SWEET FRIED BANANAS

4 large bananas, firm with clear yellow skins
2 tbsp super fine sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp grated orange peel
2 jiggers white rum
2 tbsp unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 large egg white, beaten stiff
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, for frying

Cut bananas into halves lengthwise and set in a shallow bowl. Lightly mix the sugar, lemon juice, orange peel and rum. Pour over the bananas and let stand for 2 hours.
Make a batter from the flour, water and 1 tbsp olive oil, mixing well. Blend in the stiff egg white.
Drain bananas, dip into batter and fry in olive oil only until golden in color.
Sprinkle with sugar and serve hot.

Serves 2 to 4

A Delicate Dessert with Lemon Flavor

This dessert is delicate and loaded with lemon flavor.
The real treat is that it is very light!! So 2 helpings are OK.

MARGHERITA TART

6 large egg yolks
1 3/4 cups confectioners sugar (10X sugar)
6 large egg whites
1 3/4 cups potato flour
1/2 cup melted unsalted butter
1 tsp grated fresh lemon rind

Butter and flour a 10 inch cake pan. Set aside.

Combine the egg yolks and the sugar and beat until light yellow and frothy.

Beat the egg whites until they are stiff and stand in peaks.

Gently fold together the egg yolks and the egg whites.
Then fold in the potato flour gradually being sure to blend well.
Add the melted butter and the lemon rind. Again gently fold into the mixture.

Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for 30 to 35 mins.
Test with cake tester and it should come out clean.

When done wait for a few minutes and then turn cake out onto cooling rack and allow to cool completely.

Then place cake on a serving dish and dust with confectioners suger. Can be served with your favorite fruit sauce or just plain.

A REAL TREAT THAT IS DIFFERENT

When we were kids this is one dessert that we always would try to snatch off the plate before it was served to all the guests. You can eat them warm or cold.

FRIED RICOTTA

1/2 pound of macaroons, crumbled very fine
1 pound ricotta
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 large eggs
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup of plain bread crumbs
1 cup unsalted butter

In a large mixing bowl mix together the macaroons, ricotta , cinnamon and the 2 large eggs. Mix well .
Using your hands, shape into small balls, and dip into beaten egg. Roll in the bread crumbs. Fry in hot butter unto golden brown. Serves 6.